Alabama announces two starting QBs: Cooper Bateman gets first crack

The question for Alabama all week has been: “Who will the Crimson Tide start at quarterback?” Instead of answering on Saturday evening, coach Nick Saban decided to play mind games with the Rebels.

First, WVUA-FM reported that sophomore Cooper Bateman would get the nod. Then, the team announced that both Bateman and senior Jake Coker — who started the first two games — would be co-starters against the Rebels.

Coker worked with the first and second teams during warmups, while Bateman was relegated to the third team, according to AL.com‘s Matt Zenitz.

But Bateman was Saban’s final choice, as reported by ESPN’s Rece Davis during the broadcast.

While he had not previously started, the Utah native contributed to both of the Tide’s early-season wins.

He was 7-of-8 for 51 yards in the opener against Wisconsin, and then started the second half against Middle Tennessee State last weekend, completing 11-of-17 for 98 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

That TD “pass” was a simple forward pitch into the arms of speedster Kenyan Drake, who did all of the work on a 14-yard catch and run.